Posted on 11/09/2011 10:22:21 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Tuesday’s legislative elections in Virginia appeared likely to add more evidence — as if national Democrats needed it — that the terrain of the political map will be significantly more rugged for President Obama next year.
It is difficult to draw a bright trend line from an election in which fewer than one-third of those registered voted. When turnout is as light as it was on Tuesday, those who do show up tend to be the most dogged partisans.
But analysts and political strategists of both parties said the expected Republican gains — even if less than was expected — underscored the need for the president to reinvigorate his supporters and close what is becoming known as the “enthusiasm gap” between the two parties.
“The enthusiasm gap has been completely reversed in the state. Republicans have it. Democrats don’t,” said political scientist Bob Holsworth, a former professor at Virginia Commonwealth University who now runs a Web site called Virginia Tomorrow.
In 2008, Obama’s seven-point victory in Virginia marked the first time that any Democratic candidate had carried the state since Lyndon B. Johnson’s landslide national victory in 1964. Duplicating that feat in 2012 would make his reelection significantly easier.
The political tide, however, has been running the other way — starting with the 2009 election of Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell and continuing with GOP victories in last year’s midterm elections.
“Independents specifically have rejected the Obama agenda, and they are fully supportive of the McDonnell agenda,” said Phil Cox, who managed the governor’s campaign and is now executive director of the Republican Governors Association.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Not just in VA. Here in Delaware County PA, it was a GOP sweep :^)
Funny how when you are committed to your principles and have vision (Gov.s Walker and McDonnell), you get things done and voters in blue-purplish states support you, and when you are a mush-mouth and stand for nothing but cowardice (Boehner, McCain, etc.) you lose...
I am assumuind it must have been a bad day for democraps because I am not hearing any news anywhere except for the ohop loss for Kasich-
And I think that result is backwards because of confusing language- you had to vote YES if you DID NOT want the unions to have collective bargaining re-instated
I heard McDonnell speak at a campaign event before the 2010 elections. He was very impressive. Same goes for Walker.
RE: Funny how when you are committed to your principles and have vision (Gov.s Walker and McDonnell), you get things done
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Not always. Gov. John Kasich lost big in Ohio last night.
But wait...the goons at Politico and The Hill labeled yesterday a stunning win for Obama....somebody’s lying.....
They should have pushed McDonnell to run for president this year.
Headlines are mostly about the Ohio defeat but other news from VA, MS and other states was more positive.
Lehigh County, PA was also very good to Republicans yesterday.
Any news on the VA Senate? Apparently it’s going to come down to a recount.
Not lying per se, just concentrating on different aspects of the elections.
Politico, Slate, Hill etc. are all tauting referendums and amendments that were defeated in numerous states (or passed) that had been victories for unions, Obama, etc.
While those defeats did happen, almost across the board in elections that actually involved PEOPLE where D and R were head to head the Demons were soundly beaten for the most part.
Lying by omission is still lying.
The economy is in a depression. The incumbent president is a Democrat. His party will be held accountable for the depression. Obama is a one-term wonder.
I think ohio’s vote on 0bamacare was more of a warning sign.
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